Family Fun Friday: Trash to Fun - DIY Recycled Toys
2024-07-12 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Chicago)
Embark on a journey of excitement and exploration every Friday throughout June and July at your library! We’ll have activities designed to delight all ages, from drop-in craft programs and outdoor activities to special presentations from professional performers. Join us for an unforgettable summer of discovery and joy at the heart of your community—because Fridays are for fun at MPL!
This Friday, turn trash into treasure! Get creative with your recyclables and transform them into awesome toys that you’ll love to play with!
Family Fun Friday Dates and Events:
June 7: DIY Bubble Wands & Bubble Party
June 14: DIY Sensory Bottles
June 21: Remarkable Reptiles with Homer Lake Interpretive Center
June 28: Live Concert with Children’s Musician Marko Polo
July 5: DIY Binoculars & Nature Walk Flower Pots
July 12: Trash to Fun – DIY Recycled Toys
July 19: Fire and Ice Science Show by Absolute Science
July 26: Trash to Art – Creative Re-use Art
All ages. No registration required.

Family Fun Friday: Fire & Ice Science Show
2024-07-19 10:00 - 11:00
Embark on a journey of excitement and exploration every Friday throughout June and July at your library! We’ll have activities designed to delight all ages, from drop-in craft programs and outdoor activities to special presentations from professional performers. Join us for an unforgettable summer of discovery and joy at the heart of your community—because Fridays are for fun at MPL!
This Friday, get ready for an electrifying experience at the “Fire and Ice” Science Show by Absolute Science! Join us as we explore the coolest and hottest experiments that will blow your mind and ignite your passion for science!
Family Fun Friday Dates and Events:
June 7: DIY Bubble Wands & Bubble Party
June 14: DIY Sensory Bottles
June 21: Remarkable Reptiles with Homer Lake Interpretive Center
June 28: Live Concert with Children’s Musician Marko Polo
July 5: DIY Binoculars & Nature Walk Flower Pots
July 12: Trash to Fun – DIY Recycled Toys
July 19: Fire and Ice Science Show by Absolute Science
July 26: Trash to Art – Creative Re-use Art
All ages. No registration required.

Ice Cream Social & Live Music
2024-07-21 14:00 - 16:00
Get ready for a scoop of community appreciation! Join us for an ice cream social hosted by the Library’s Board of Trustees. Enjoy free ice cream (and toppings!) and connect with the leaders dedicated to serving your Library. Then, while you eat your ice cream, listen to live music, provided by Riders of the Golden Maize, a local group that covers music from many eras, including many classic favorites.
A sweet celebration awaits!
A huge thanks to The Main Scoop for the ice cream, the Board of Trustees for the toppings, and Friends of the Library for funding the music!

There is no cost or registration required to attend the Ice Cream Social. Anyone may attend. Music will be on the lawn (weather permitting) or in the Edgar Room, if it rains or is scorchingly hot. If you have them, please bring blankets or lawn chairs to sit in while you eat your ice cream and listen to music! Some lawn games will also be available.

Family Fun Friday: Trash to Art - Creative Re-use Art
2024-07-26 10:00 - 11:30
Embark on a journey of excitement and exploration every Friday throughout June and July at your library! We’ll have activities designed to delight all ages, from drop-in craft programs and outdoor activities to special presentations from professional performers. Join us for an unforgettable summer of discovery and joy at the heart of your community—because Fridays are for fun at MPL!
This Friday, get ready to unleash your inner artist! Turn ordinary trash into masterpieces as we explore the endless possibilities of recycling and creativity together.
Family Fun Friday Dates and Events:
June 7: DIY Bubble Wands & Bubble Party
June 14: DIY Sensory Bottles
June 21: Remarkable Reptiles with Homer Lake Interpretive Center
June 28: Live Concert with Children’s Musician Marko Polo
July 5: DIY Binoculars & Nature Walk Flower Pots
July 12: Trash to Fun – DIY Recycled Toys
July 19: Fire and Ice Science Show by Absolute Science
July 26: Trash to Art – Creative Re-use Art
All ages. No registration required.

Storytime: Weekend Edition
2024-07-27 09:30 - 10:30
Children and families are welcome to join us for an all ages-style storytime featuring rhymes, songs, and books, followed by a fun, themed craft!
No registration required.

Movie on the Lawn
2024-07-27 19:00 - 22:00
Join us for summer nights of fun and films! June brings “Super Mario Bros” – game on! In July, dive into the ocean with “Finding Nemo.” Enjoy outdoor games and treats from Ice Daddy’s at 7 pm. Movie starts at 8:30 when the stars light up the sky! Attendees are also welcome to bring their own snacks. Bring along some yard chairs or picnic blankets.
June 29: Super Mario Bros
July 27: Finding Nemo
In the event of unfavorable weather conditions, the program will be canceled and will not be rescheduled.

Mini Golf in the Library
2024-08-03 15:00 - 19:00
We’re almost there! Assuming we read 175,000 minutes by August 1, we’ll earn our final Summer Reading Program community prize – Mini Golf in the Library!
Stop by the Library anytime between 3:00-7:00 pm to enjoy two 9-hole mini golf courses through the book stacks at the Library!
All ages are welcome. No registration required.

Library Crawl 2024
2024-10-01 - 2024-11-01
Welcome to the 6th Annual IHLS Library Crawl! As a bibliophile, we know you will enjoy the interesting and beautiful buildings that house our library collections throughout central and southern Illinois.
To Participate in the Library Crawl:

Pick up a Library Crawl passport at the Mahomet Library between October 1-31.
Choose five libraries from the passport (other than the Mahomet Library) to visit. See all the participating libraries on this map.
When you arrive at a new library, be sure to go to their main circulation desk to ask for a stamp in your passport.
Visit five or more libraries between October 1-31 to complete the Library Crawl.
Bring your passport back to the library and receive a raffle ticket (for a gift card to local business), coupon for free book from sale shelf or book sale, and a freebie!

Each library has a page in the online 2024 Library Crawl Guidebook. Be sure to check this out for a list of local eateries and places of interest the Library staff recommend. Remember, you can use your library card along the way to check out items at the libraries you visit. Then simply return them at your home library. Our statewide courier service will take care of the rest. This awesome service brings items back and forth making our collections available to all patrons.
Share the joy – take pictures along the way and post them with #IHLSLibraryCrawl2024 on social media!
Happy Crawling!

Fall Book Sale
2024-10-10 17:00 - 20:00, 2024-10-11 09:00 - 18:00, 2024-10-12 09:00 - 17:00, 2024-10-13 13:00 - 16:00
Thursday, October 10 | 5:00 – 8:00 pm (preview night for Friends members only; you can join at the door)
Friday, October 11 | 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday, October 12 | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday, October 13 | 1:00 – 4:00 pm

Book or Treat
2024-10-26 10:00 - 12:00
Come one and all! This Halloween event is for all ages. Stop by the Library in costume and receive a book and a treat. Craft stations will be set up around the Library with fun activities for everyone.
No registration required.

Mahomet-Seymour High School Madrigals
2024-12-01 14:00 - 15:00
The always amazing Mahomet Seymour High School Madrigal choir will perform selections from their show at the Library. Be prepared to be dazzled by their beautiful voices…and their Renaissance and early Baroque costumes!
All ages. No registration required.

Make & Take Ornaments
2024-12-07 10:00 - 13:00
Join us on the first Saturday in December for our annual ornament-decorating program! Supplies to make several different styles of ornaments will be provided by the Library. Community members of all ages are welcome to join in on the fun.
All ages. No registration required.

Illinois Libraries Present: Little Women, The Musical
2024-12-20 14:00 - 2024-12-22 23:30
Louisa May Alcott’s classic story of four sisters growing up in 19th-century Massachusetts made its London premiere in this acclaimed production at Park Theatre. Originally presented on Broadway in 2005 starring Sutton Foster, Lydia White and Savannah Stevenson lead a talented cast in this beloved tale of family, self-discovery, and hope.
Louisa May Alcott’s classic story of four sisters growing up in 19th-century Massachusetts made its London premiere in this acclaimed production at Park Theatre. Originally presented on Broadway in 2005 starring Sutton Foster, Lydia White and Savannah Stevenson lead a talented cast in this beloved tale of family, self-discovery, and hope. Little Women at Park Theatre is directed by Bronagh Lagan with set and costume design by Nik Corrall, musical direction by Leo Munby, orchestrations by Andy Collyer, choreography by Sarah Golding, lighting design by Ben M. Rogers, sound design by Paul Gavin and casting by Jane Deitch. It is produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment, Hope Mill Theatre and Knockhardy Productions, in association with Park Theatre, and co-produced by Bonnie Comley and Stewart F. Lane. Little Women has a book by Allan Knee (Finding Neverland, The Astonishing Times of Timothy Cratchit), lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, and music by Grammy Award-winner Jason Howland.
This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present (ILP), a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
ILP is committed to inclusion and accessibility. To request accommodations, please email illinoislibrariespresent@gmail.com.
This is a pre-recorded, virtual showing. The musical can be viewed between Friday, December 20 (beginning at 2:00 pm)-Sunday, December 22. Registrants will receive an email with a special link to the performance.
All ages. Please register.

Take Your Child to the Library Day! Scavenger Hunt & Hot Cocoa Bar
2025-02-01 14:00 - 16:00
Help us celebrate “Take Your Child to the Library Day” and join us for a scavenger hunt in the Library, along with a cozy hot cocoa bar!
All ages. No registration required.

Spring Book Sale
2025-04-24 17:00 - 20:00, 2025-04-25 09:00 - 18:00, 2025-04-26 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-04-27 13:00 - 16:00
Thursday, April 24 | 5:00 – 8:00 pm (preview night for Friends members only; you can join at the door)
Friday, April 25 | 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday, April 26 | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday, April 27 | 1:00 – 4:00 pm

Sixth Annual Jigsaw Puzzle Competition
2025-05-03 13:00 - 15:00
This popular event is back! Get ready to piece together a victory at the Library’s yearly puzzle competition. Race against the clock and complete a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle faster than competing teams. Are you up for the challenge?
Registration as a team of up to 4 people is required. All ages welcome.

ILP: Art and Adventures with Author/Illustrator Dan Santat
2025-05-03 14:00 - 15:00
Join bestselling author and illustrator Dan Santat for an afternoon event all about books and art with friend and collaborator, author Minh Lê.
Dan Santat is the author and illustrator of over a hundred books for young people! Many of his books are New York Times bestsellers, including The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, Are We There Yet?, and After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again). His latest works include the best-selling graphic novels, The Aquanaut and A First Time for Everything. He is also the creator of the Disney animated hit, The Replacements.
Santat won the Caldecott Medal for most distinguished picture book in 2015, the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature in 2023 and Golden Kite Award for Middle Grade Fiction in 2024. In addition to writing books, Dan serves on the board of We Need Diverse Books, and has been a contributor to a variety of national publications, including NPR, HuffPost, and the New York Times.
Minh Lê is the award-winning author of picture books including Drawn Together (winner of the 2019 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature), The Blur (with Dan Santat!), Real to Me, Lift, and graphic novels such as Green Lantern: Legacy and Enlighten Me.
For all ages. Via Zoom. Registration required.
This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present (ILP), a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). ILP is committed to inclusion and accessibility. To request accommodations, please email illinoislibrariespresent@gmail.com.

Arts and Crafts Supply Swap
2025-05-10 10:00 - 11:00
Got a surplus of gently-loved or even brand-new art and craft supplies collecting dust at home? Eager to dive into a new hobby without breaking the bank on fresh materials? From May 4-9, drop off supplies in good condition that you’re ready to part with. Then, at the swap, snag some supplies for your creative adventures, free of charge!
Swap Day Schedule:
10:00-10:15 am: Those who donate will receive a voucher for early entry to the swap.
10:15-11:00 am: Public entry (everyone who did not donate supplies) begins
11:00 am: Anyone is welcome to take the remaining materials, even if you have already filled a bag.

All ages. No registration required. Part of our Adult Craft Connection series.

Summer Reading Programs
2025-05-21 - 2025-08-02
Summer reading time is here! The much-anticipated Summer Reading Programs kick off on May 21, the last day of school (you can sign up that day!), and conclude on August 1 (the last day to log minutes). This year’s iREAD 2025 theme is “Level Up! at Your Library,” an all ages summer reading program based around puzzles and games. Play is one of the ways we learn to relate to others, to think in new ways, and to foster friendships, new and old. Level Up! reminds us that libraries are not just a space for knowledge, they’re a space for fun! There will be child, teen, and adult prizes (even prizes for the community) based on minutes read.

Kids (Birth-Fifth Grade):

Use your reading log to track your minutes read and earn beads for your brag tag!
Finish your whole log and receive a FREE BOOK, Monicals coupon, and star to put up on the wall in the children’s area.
Earn stickers for your badge book full of bonus reading challenges. Complete all the challenges get a water bottle or tote bag.

Teens (Sixth-Ninth Grade):

Use your reading log to track your minutes read.
Get a raffle ticket for every hour you read.
Finish your whole log and receive a FREE BOOK and Monicals coupon.

Adults (Tenth Grade and Up):
For every 10 hours you read, fill out a raffle ticket for a chance to win a gift card from a local business!

Community Prizes: Help Us “Unlock” Prizes for Everyone!

Download the “Reader Zone” app or log in on their website.
Enter your total number of minutes read.
If the community reads a certain number of minutes in total, we will unlock the following special community prizes:

25,000 Minutes: New train set for the train table
75,000 Minutes: Botley 2.0 Coding Robot
150,000 Minutes: 6 new Wonderbooks
200,000 Minutes: Foam party

I Spy Summer at the Library
2025-05-24 09:00 - 14:00
Get ready for the ultimate summer kickoff bash! Join our “I Spy” themed walk from Barber Park to the Library, followed by inflatables, carnival games, face painting, temporary tattoos, music, summer reading sign-up, and more. Free hot dogs and chips begin at 11:00 am, while supplies last. Ice Daddy’s shaved ice will also be available for purchase. Don’t miss the fun!

The “I Spy” Walk
You won’t want to miss out on our “I Spy” walk from Barber Park to the Library. All ages are welcome!

FOUR STOPS with special displays! Kids who collect stickers from the red buckets at all 4 stops will get a free book at the end. Grownups will get a free coupon for our Keurig station.
An I Spy hunt all along the route, with plenty of items, some big and some small, to find! This year’s walk will feature dragons, hats, and fish, plus many unique items. We’ll give you a scoresheet to keep track of what you find.

The shuttle will drop you off at Barber Park, then you’ll follow the bike path to the Library. At the end of the trail, you’ll find the rest of the summer party fun! We encourage people to park at the Library and take the provided shuttle to the starting line.

The Course

It’s a 1.3-mile route following the bike path the entire way, and stroller friendly!
All hidden items will be located close to the trail in grassy areas. You will not need to venture into the woods or nearby yards.
The bike path runs along Route 150 for a while. Please make sure you have enough adults in your party to supervise young children for these stretches along the road. The route also crosses a few intersections.
We are offering free shuttle service 9am-1:30pm from the library to the start of the walk.

This fundraising event supports your community through the Rotary Club of Mahomet and the Friends of the Mahomet Public Library.

Proudly sponsored by:

Family Fun Friday: Field Day at the Library!
2025-06-06 10:00 - 11:30
Each Friday morning in June and July, we’ll have a fun event for all ages at the Library! Events will range from drop-in stations and outdoor activities to special presentations from professional performers.
Dates and Events:
June 6: Field Day at the Library! (outdoor activities and games; in the case of inclement weather, this will change to a drop-in craft program)
June 13: Magic with Joel Shoemaker*
June 20: Unlazy River (outdoor obstacle course; in the case of inclement weather, this will change to a drop-in craft program)
June 27: Do Art! With Do Art Productions*
July 11: Minecraft BINGO
July 18: Bigger Bang Bubble Show with Absolute Science*
July 25: Blast From the Past: Nostalgic Toys Open Play

*These special presentations end at 11:00 am instead of 11:30 am.
All ages. No registration required.

Family Fun Friday: Magic with Joel Shoemaker
2025-06-13 10:00 - 11:00

Family Fun Friday: Unlazy River
2025-06-20 10:00 - 11:30

Library Expansion Community Meetings
2025-06-26 18:00 - 20:00
Mahomet Library Expansion is Moving Forward!
Community Meetings this Summer
After many years of planning, the Board of Trustees of the Mahomet Public Library has decided to move ahead actively with a much needed expansion. This expansion is expected to include a new, larger children’s library with a dedicated teen room, a much larger meeting and programming room, more community space and a covered patio/outdoor program space.
Read more about the expansion project here: Dreaming of the Future: What the Future Holds for Our Community’s Library Building
Would you like to learn more, or volunteer to help in some way with this exciting addition to our community? We are planning three Community Meetings to introduce the details of the project, answer questions, and get feedback from the community. The three meetings will be:
Thursday, June 26th 6:00pm
Wednesday, July 16th 6:30pm
Sunday, August 3rd 2:00pm
